I wanted to take the time to wish you a happy Martin Luther King Day and reflect on this important moment in our history, as President Obama is sworn in for a second term.

President Obama’s election was one step towards fulfilling “The Dream” Dr. King famously articulated, and his reelection is an affirmation of the progress we have made as a people and a nation. However, there is still a great deal of work to do to bring the dream to life. Despite Dr. King's leadership and the strides we have made since, we still are in a constant fight for diversity in schools and the workplace, racial equality, and social and economic justice for all peoples. President Obama and I are leading this fight for progressive ideals, whether it be immigration reform, marriage equality, protecting affirmative action, a fairer tax code for middle-class families, lifting the poor out of poverty, and securing health coverage for everyone in America.

While we have made strides since Dr. King’s days, the challenges still remain. The night before he died, Dr. King famously professed: “I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised land.” We are still trying to reach Dr. King’s “promised land”, but we are well on our way.

The Affordable Care Act has made a difference in the lives of millions of Americans. Families no longer have to worry about being denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions nor do they have to worry about insurance caps preventing them from accessing the necessary medical treatment.______________________